• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Janice Beetle Books

Writing, editing, book development, and publishing help

  • Home
  • About
    • My Books
    • Clients’ Books
    • Privacy Policy
  • Services
    • Creative Writing Review/Coaching
    • Book Development /Writing
      • Book Development Sampler
    • Book Editing
    • Copy Editing
    • Book Design
    • Publishing Guidance
  • Blog
  • Poem Pods
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Order My Book
You are here: Home / All / The Quiet Guidance of a Good and Gentle Man

The Quiet Guidance of a Good and Gentle Man

June 16, 2013 by Janice Beetle Leave a Comment

My father, Harvey Beetle, is the quietest member of our family of four, but in his gentle, unassuming way, he is also the strongest presence. In so few words, but in so many actions, he has taught me how to be a fun-loving, gentle and compassionate person.

It was my father who taught me how to drive a small boat with a small engine at 6 or 7 years old. He taught me how to pull the choke, pull-start the engine, back up, bring the boat into shore for a safe landing and be prepared for crises. At 14, he taught me how to drive a speed boat that travelled at speeds over 50 miles an hour. At 16, he taught me how to drive a car. And in all of these stressful transactions – when I was in control of thousands of dollars worth of his property and had our lives in my hands – he never once lost his cool or raised his voice. He taught in a calm, measured way.

In this way, my father taught me patience.

My father has the tenderest of hearts. He has wept over the hardship of others when watching the news. He loves a happy ending. He is a man who will stop his car and pull over to the side of the rode to get out and escort a turtle safely to the other side. He is a man who gives generously to causes and is the first to, very quietly and without expectation of any reward, come to the aid of others in need.

In this way, my father taught me compassion.

My father finds pleasure in the little things. He likes cheap restaurants, diners that offer giant pancakes and baked beans. He loves jelly crullers and ice cream and fireworks and go-carts and board games and watching children play. He likes baseball and parades and beautiful sunsets, and he laughs easily and with heart.

In this way, my father taught me to enjoy the simple things in life.

Before he retired in the late 80s, my dad was an insurance adjuster, and he was honest to a fault. Very few things made him angry, but one thing that would set him off was people trying to scam the system to make a buck. That would tick him off. He might even be apt to raise his voice.

Harvey “Scud” Beetle is a very honest man himself, you see. He would never consider breaking the rules or uttering words that were not truthful. In his many, many years of full-time work, I cannot even remember one time that my father called in sick when he wasn’t actually ill.

In this way, my father taught me to be a good, honest and ethical person.

My father is a Barbershopper – a baritone – and boy does he love to sing. He has been in Barbershop choruses and quartets for as long as I can remember. He is not a show off, and he is not vain. He just loves to get together with his Barbershop friends and spend a night learning songs, perfecting his notes, and especially, performing.

Watching my father sing, I learned about joy and doing things that make you happy.

My father continues to inspire me, make me smile and come to my rescue, and he continues to lead our family, which now includes spouses and children (grandchildren), in the most unassuming way possible.

Happy father’s day to you dad. You are a wonderful role model, and I love you.

← Previous Post
Next Post →

Filed Under: All

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nevadacowgirl says

    June 16, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    Beautiful Janice! In so many ways like my own father.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe

Please enter your email address to receive blog posts by email.

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Larceny in the Aisles is Hot Off the Press!
  • Ten Tips for the Travel Writer-Wannabe
  • Thrilled to Meet My Client From London

Archives

  • October 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • November 2012

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2023 Janice Beetle Books · Privacy Policy
Content by Janice Beetle Books · Site by Turn Signal Media